With the theme “Ethnic Khmer cultural, sports and tourism festival in the Southern Region – Integration and Development”, opened on the evening of December 2, 2011 in the ${attraction_Mekong_Delta:”Mekong Delta”} province of An Giang. The opening ceremony was aired live on VTV1, VTV4, and several other TV channels in the area. The five-day affair featured flower parade, music and dance performances by artists and athletes of Khmer art troupes coming from the 12 southern provinces. The festivities took place at the Xuan Bien Industrial Park, Tinh Bien District. Among the highlighted cultural activities include exhibition, documentary screenings, long-boat races, fashion shows of traditional Khmer costumes, traditional food and cuisine contest, ox races, and folk games.

Organized every 3 years, the Khmer Festival is a significant cultural and political event not only for Khmer ethnic people’s spiritual life, but for the country’s identity. With the event becoming popular and much looked forward to not only by locals but by tourists alike, it largely uplifts the tourism industry in An Giang Province and neighboring areas.

The 5-day event concluded on December 6.